Manziel was in town on the eve of his 20th birthday to prepare for The Home Depot College Football Awards, which will air live on ESPN on Thursday night. Manziel is a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.

Muzzled most of the season by the no-freshman interview policy of Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin, Manziel, who sported a pair of blue jeans and an Aggies polo, revealed a gracious, unassuming and well-thought-out side.

Asked about his competition – Notre Dame linebacker Manti T'eo and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein – for the Maxwell Award and Heisman Trophy (awarded Saturday), given to the country's top players, Manziel let the compliments flow.

“They are unbelievable,” he said. “Look at Manti and what he has done for that Notre Dame team – coming from a team that was unranked to playing in the national championship game now. He is the heart and soul of that defense, and he does everything that is asked of him.

“You look at Kansas State. They had the slip-up against Baylor, but Collin Klein does everything the coaches ask of him. He is the motor of that offense. He runs it, throws it and does everything that he is asked to do.”

While Te'o – who was unable to attend Wednesday's media availability – and Klein put together impressive campaigns, none seemed to roll into Disney with more rock-star status than Manziel, who set the SEC on fire this year by accounting for 4,600 yards and 43 touchdowns.

He drew the most attention and, perhaps fittingly, the oddest line of questions.

Someone asked if he planned to wear his Scooby-Doo socks to the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

“We'll see,” Manziel replied with a slight grin.

Another asked if, while taking in Sunday's Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles game, Manziel took the time to envision himself as Dallas' starting quarterback. He did not take the bait – noting only that Dallas has a nice stadium.

Of course, he was asked if the ladies have paid him more attention.

“I'm content in that department,” he said with a smile before taking a big swig from the bottle of water in his hand.

Manziel credited his offensive line and receivers for his success and called current Dolphins and former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whom he said he watched break down defenses in the film room last season, a “genius.”

He said he has not paid much attention to the numerous straw polls that show him as the Heisman favorite. But he admitted he has taken the time to work a little bit on an acceptance speech.

“I think you have to be somewhat prepared,” he said.

Of course, his scramble-filled highlight film shows a young man adept at making decisions on the fly if need be.

ESPN college football analyst David Pollack called Klein “awesome” and said Notre Dame would likely have three losses minus Te'o. But he saved his most colorful comments for Manziel.

“I call him ‘The Magician,'” Pollack said. “He just makes stuff happen. Pulls it out of nowhere. It wasn't there. It's there now.”

It is that magic that could very well make for a historic Heisman win. No freshman has ever taken home the trophy, but that could change come Saturday.

“You have to make history at some point,” Pollack said.

And while he seems to be handling it all in stride, “Johnny Football” admitted he is still trying to digest what the next few days could bring.

“Looking back at the beginning of the year, if somebody would have told me this,” he said, “I would not have believed them.”

<p><b> ORLANDO –</b> Turns out Johnny Manziel is about as good in front of a microphone as he is on a football field. <ep></p><p>Wednesday night, the Texas A&M redshirt quarterback – “Johnny Football” himself – held court for the media alongside some of college football's brightest stars inside the Disney Boardwalk Inn Convention Center.<ep></p><p>Manziel was in town on the eve of his 20th birthday to prepare for The Home Depot College Football Awards, which will air live on ESPN on Thursday night. Manziel is a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. <ep></p><p>Muzzled most of the season by the no-freshman interview policy of Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin, Manziel, who sported a pair of blue jeans and an Aggies polo, revealed a gracious, unassuming and well-thought-out side. <ep></p><p>Asked about his competition – Notre Dame linebacker Manti T'eo and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein – for the Maxwell Award and Heisman Trophy (awarded Saturday), given to the country's top players, Manziel let the compliments flow. <ep></p><p>“They are unbelievable,” he said. “Look at Manti and what he has done for that Notre Dame team – coming from a team that was unranked to playing in the national championship game now. He is the heart and soul of that defense, and he does everything that is asked of him. <ep></p><p>“You look at Kansas State. They had the slip-up against Baylor, but Collin Klein does everything the coaches ask of him. He is the motor of that offense. He runs it, throws it and does everything that he is asked to do.” <ep></p><p>While Te'o – who was unable to attend Wednesday's media availability – and Klein put together impressive campaigns, none seemed to roll into Disney with more rock-star status than Manziel, who set the SEC on fire this year by accounting for 4,600 yards and 43 touchdowns. <ep></p><p>He drew the most attention and, perhaps fittingly, the oddest line of questions.<ep></p><p>Someone asked if he planned to wear his Scooby-Doo socks to the Heisman Trophy ceremony.<ep></p><p>“We'll see,” Manziel replied with a slight grin.<ep></p><p>Another asked if, while taking in Sunday's Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles game, Manziel took the time to envision himself as Dallas' starting quarterback. He did not take the bait – noting only that Dallas has a nice stadium. <ep></p><p>Of course, he was asked if the ladies have paid him more attention.</p><p>“I'm content in that department,” he said with a smile before taking a big swig from the bottle of water in his hand.</p><p>Manziel credited his offensive line and receivers for his success and called current Dolphins and former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whom he said he watched break down defenses in the film room last season, a “genius.”<ep></p><p>He said he has not paid much attention to the numerous straw polls that show him as the Heisman favorite. But he admitted he has taken the time to work a little bit on an acceptance speech. <ep></p><p>“I think you have to be somewhat prepared,” he said. <ep></p><p>Of course, his scramble-filled highlight film shows a young man adept at making decisions on the fly if need be. <ep></p><p>ESPN college football analyst David Pollack called Klein “awesome” and said Notre Dame would likely have three losses minus Te'o. But he saved his most colorful comments for Manziel. <ep></p><p>“I call him 'The Magician,'” Pollack said. “He just makes stuff happen. Pulls it out of nowhere. It wasn't there. It's there now.” <ep></p><p>It is that magic that could very well make for a historic Heisman win. No freshman has ever taken home the trophy, but that could change come Saturday. <ep></p><p>“You have to make history at some point,” Pollack said. <ep></p><p>And while he seems to be handling it all in stride, “Johnny Football” admitted he is still trying to digest what the next few days could bring. <ep></p><p> “Looking back at the beginning of the year, if somebody would have told me this,” he said, “I would not have believed them.”<ep></p>